Cleaning Cloth Comprising Staple Fiber Loops

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a cleaning cloth for smooth surfaces, in particular for producing surface wipes. Said cloth consists of a long-pile velour fabric ( 1 ) with a flat support structure ( 2 ) and a trim of perpendicular, tightly-packed filaments ( 3 ), which are anchored in the flat support structure ( 2 ), protrude at least 5 mm beyond the flat support structure ( 2 ) and have a density of at least ten filaments per cm 2  of the support structure ( 2 ). According to the invention, the filaments ( 3 ) of the trim consist of staple fibres and are joined at their distal ends to form loops ( 4 ). The filaments ( 3 ) of the trim are merely looped and not cut, so that no shorter filament sections can become detached during the use of the staple fibres, thus preventing the usual pilling of cleaning cloths.

The present innovation relates to a cleaning textile for smooth surfaces, particularly for the production of surface wipers, consisting of a high-pile plush fabric, which has a planar carrier structure and a lining of threads that run perpendicular to the former, disposed closely next to one another, which are anchored in the planar carrier structure, project at least 5 mm above the planar carrier structure, and have a density of at least ten threads per cm² of the carrier structure.

Such cleaning textiles have proven themselves, in excellent manner, as a cover for wiping mops or window cleaners. The threads of the cleaning textiles used nowadays consist of synthetic fibers, in most cases endless microfibers.

The high-pile plush fabric is produced using the so-called double-plush weaving method. In this connection, two planar carrier structures are woven closely together with the threads, at a distance of twice the pile height. This structure is cut open in the plane of symmetry of the carrier structures. The threads are cut through in this connection, so that two individual plush fabrics are formed. The lining density of the carrier structures remains unaffected by being cut open.

Cut-open threads of endless fibers do not cause any difficulties. However, if the threads consist of staple fibers, particularly short fiber segments necessarily occur when the threads are cut through, which find insufficient hold in the knitted loops of the thread. These fiber segments come loose from the textile, and remain on the surface to be cleaned: The textile leaves lint. Particularly in the case of wiping of windows, mirrors, and other smooth surfaces, such as, in particular, PVC floor coverings, the fibers that come loose remain behind as individual pieces of lint; therefore this is no longer thorough cleaning. Also, the lint formation must be understood as being textile wear, which weakens the structure of the goods. Lint formation is further increased by the weakening of the textile.

Some consumers do not recognize the excellent cleaning effect of the synthetic fibers, and wish to have cleaning textiles made of natural cotton fibers, instead. However, their length is limited, so that they can only be spun into threads of staple fibers. They are therefore not suitable for the production of a lint-free, high-pile plush fabric in accordance with the double-plush weaving method.

The present innovation is therefore based on the task of further developing a cleaning textile of the type stated initially, in such a manner that the threads of the lining can consist of staple fibers, without being exposed to the risk of lint formation.

This is accomplished in that the threads of the lining of staple fibers are connected into loops at their distal ends.

The advantage of the cleaning textile according to the innovation consists in the fact that the threads of the lining are merely looped and not cut open, so that when using staple fibers, shorter fiber segments cannot come loose and come out.

The present cleaning textile differs from known terrycloth woven textiles by its far greater pile height, and from tufted cleaning textiles by its clearly greater lining density.

The production of such a cleaning textile can no longer take place by means of the conventional double-plush weaving method with cutting, because of the principle involved. Instead, one uses a modified method, in which the threads are not cut open, but rather the carrier structures are modified in such a manner that they allow separation without cutting. This can take place, for example, by means of tearing them off. Likewise, a special loom can be used, which has lancets that determine the distance between the two carrier structures.

The threads of the lining preferably consist at least partially of cotton. This natural fiber material is particular popular with consumers who are ecology-minded, and achieves a respectable cleaning effect. Synthetic fibers can be mixed in.

Also, the cleaning textile according to the innovation allows the use of viscose staple fibers or lyocell staple fibers, a modified viscose. It is true that both synthetic fibers are available as endless filaments, but it has been shown that the cleaning effect of viscose staple fibers is clearly superior to that of the viscose endless fibers.

The present innovation will now be explained using an exemplary embodiment. For this purpose, the figures show, with great magnification, in each instance:

FIG. 1: plush fabric, in perspective;

FIG. 2: production on a special loom;

FIG. 3: plush fabric, in a side view.

The cleaning textile consists of a high-pile plush fabric 1, which in turn is composed of a planar carrier structure 2 having a lining of threads 3 that run perpendicular to the former, disposed closely next to one another. The threads 3 of the lining consist of staple fibers, such as of cotton and/or viscose, for example, and are connected to form loops 4 at their distal ends. The threads 3 are therefore continuously anchored in the carrier structure 2, so that no individual fibers can come loose.

The cleaning textile according to the innovation is provided using a modified double-plush weaving method. For this purpose, two parallel carrier structures 2 are connected with the threads 3, as in the case of the conventional double-plush weaving method with cutting. The parts of the carrier structures 2 indicated with * are removed after weaving, for example by means of tearing them out or by means of pulling out a corresponding device (lancet) of the textile machine. In this connection, the threads 3 are not allowed to be damaged. Uninterrupted threads 3 remain in the two carrier structures 2, which are connected with one another by means of loops 4 at their distal ends. The pile height f corresponds to the distance between the carrier structures 2 during weaving; the original lining density, on the other hand, is cut in half by means of the separation. In order to achieve a good cleaning effect, the pile height f should amount to at least five mm. The lining density should be greater than ten threads per cm² on each carrier structure 2, after separation. 

1. Cleaning textile for smooth surfaces, particularly for the production of surface wipers, consisting of a high-pile plush fabric (1), which has a planar carrier structure (2) and a lining of threads (3) that run perpendicular to the former, disposed closely next to one another, which are anchored in the planar carrier structure (2), project at least 5 mm above the planar carrier structure (2), and have a density of at least ten threads per cm² of the carrier structure (2), wherein the threads (3) of the lining consist of staple fibers and are connected into loops (4) at their distal ends.
 2. Cleaning textile according to claim 1, wherein the threads (3) consist at least partially of cotton.
 3. Cleaning textile according to claim 1, wherein the threads (3) consist at least partially of viscose.
 4. Cleaning textile according to claim 1, wherein the threads (3) consist at least partially of lyocell. 